Places on Oahu: The Barber’s Point Lighthouse

BASIC INFORMATION

• Name: Barbers Point Lighthouse
• Where: Kapolei, Hawaii
• Built: 1933
• More Information: Lighthousefriends.com

Directions

The Barbers Point Lighthouse is located in a little visited area of the island at the Barbers Point Beach Park.  To get there just take the H1 West to Kapolei.  Get off of the H1 at the Kalaeloa Boulevard Exit.  Drive all the way to the end of Kalaeloa Boulevard even as it passes through a heavy industrial area.  At the end of Kalaeloa Boulevard then make a right on to Olai Street that will take you to the beach park.

Narrative

The most impressive lighthouse I have seen on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is the Barbers Point Lighthouse.  The point that the lighthouse is named after was given its name after a ship called “Arthur” captained by Henry Barber was sailing from Honolulu to China and wrecked on the reef near the point.  All 28 people on board the ship were killed due to the wreck.  After a long history of more ships wrecking on the reef at Barbers Point, it was decided in 1880 that money needed to be raised to build a lighthouse.  It took eight more years before enough money was raised to build a lighthouse.

The lens equipment was imported from France at a cost of $2,500 and the lighthouse with nearby watchman’s cabin cost $2,201 to construct.  A local man by the name of William Hatton Aalona was hired as its keeper at an annual salary of $240.  Despite the lighthouse, in 1906 a US military transport hit the reef even though the lighthouse’s light was on.  A year later the lighthouse keeper Mr. Aalona would pass away in his sleep, he was believed to be in his seventies.

In 1930 the old lighthouse was clearly deteriorating and it was decided a new one was needed.  The current lighthouse which was much larger than the old one was built in 1933.  Besides being bigger the lighthouse instead of using lamp oil to power its light had a generator installed to provide electrical power.

On December 7, 1941 the lighthouse keeper Mr. John M. Sweeney would witness history when he watched the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Here is a letter he later wrote describing the events:

At 8:00 a.m. many planes were seen overhead, both Japanese and ours. Dog fighting continued for twenty minutes, bullets hitting the ground in bursts. Then all planes headed south, our planes chasing them. Seemed to have come from the windward side, and left the Island on Barbers Point side.Two parachutists were dropped close to the station; they were confused in the kiawi trees and prowled around the station all Sunday night, the Fort Kam. 55th C.A. boys firing at them with rifles and machine guns. One was wounded, and was later found on the beach, buried by his mate. His feet were sticking out of the sand. The other was later shot by an officer.

Monday night was bad; the boys were nervous and had to go with them to the top of the tower two times. First they thought a green light was on top of the tower. It proved to be the reflection of the moon on the glass. The next time they thought parachutists were on top of the tower. It proved to be nothing. They escorted me to the house and warned me not to go outside as they would shoot at anything.  [LighthouseFriends.com]

Today the lighthouse still operates, but does not require a watchman since it is all automated.  Additionally right next to the lighthouse is a US Navy testing facility with a tower nearly as big as the lighthouse:

Conclusion

At Barbers Point there is not much to see other than the lighthouse and nice views of the ocean.  The ocean though is filled with sharp rocks and not one you want to swim in.  The beach though is popular for fishing. The drive to Barbers Point is not a scenic one as it passes through a heavy industrial area.  Adjacent to Barbers Point Beach Park though is Germaine’s Luau which for people attending the luau it is worth walking over and checking out the lighthouse.